2 Chronicles 24:20Easy To Read VersionGod’s Spirit came on Zechariah. Zechariah’s father was Jehoiada the priest. Zechariah stood in front of the people and said, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you people refuse to obey the Lord’s commands? You will not be successful. You have left the Lord. So the Lord has also left you!’” See the chapter |
“And you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father. Serve God with a pure heart. Be happy in your heart (mind) to serve God. Why? Because the Lord knows what is in every person’s heart (mind). The Lord understands everything you think. If you go to the Lord for help, you will get an answer. But if you turn away from the Lord, he will leave you forever.
Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah. Those leaders of Judah had gathered together in Jerusalem because they all were afraid of Shishak. Shemaiah said to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Rehoboam, you and the people of Judah have left me and refused to obey my law. So now I will leave you to face Shishak without my help.’”
When the prophet spoke, Amaziah said to the prophet, “We never made you an adviser to the king! Be quiet! If you don’t be quiet, you will be killed.” The prophet became quiet, but then said, “God really has decided to destroy you. Why? Because you did those bad things and didn’t listen to my advice.”
So, the Lord became very angry at the people of Judah and Jerusalem. The Lord punished them. Other peoples became afraid and were shocked when they saw what the Lord did to the people of Judah and Jerusalem. Those other people shook their heads with hate and shame for the people of Judah. You know these things are true. You can see with your own eyes.
You did bad things,\par and those bad things will only\par bring punishment to you.\par Trouble will come to you.\par And that trouble will teach you a lesson.\par Think about it!\par Then you will understand how bad it is\par to turn away from your God.\par It is wrong not to fear and respect me!”\par This message was from my Master,\par the Lord All-Powerful.\par
The people of Judah will ask you,\par ‘Jeremiah, why has the Lord our God\par done this bad thing to us?’\par Give them this answer:\par ‘You people of Judah have left the Lord,\par and you have served foreign idols\par in your own land.\par You did those things, so now\par you will serve foreigners in a land\par that doesn’t belong to you.’”\par
So you will be guilty for the death of all the good people that have been killed on earth. You will be guilty for the killing of that good man Abel. {\cf2\super [357]} And you will be guilty for the killing of Zechariah {\cf2\super [358]} son of Berachiah. He was killed between the temple {\cf2\super [359]} and the altar. {\cf2\super [360]} You will be guilty for the killing of all the good people that lived between the time of Abel and the time of Zechariah.